Vet time again

Just called the vet and set up an appointment for Mickey. His poops have been getting smaller lately, which means that there's some kind of blockage going on. At first, I figured it was more of his usual hairball issues, so I've been giving him Petromalt (which he adores, although I'm not comfortable with giving it to him so often), but I'm not seeing much hair in his poop, so I'm worried that it might be something else. Since I've allowed him access to my dining room/office area, he's chewed some of the rubber trim on my floor mats and also mangled a TV cable belonging to my son. The cable was a spare, not connected to the TV but tucked in a corner where we keep some of our old printers; somehow Mickey managed to find it and shred the daylights out of it without me noticing until it was too late. Needless to say, this is way more rubber-ingesting than I'm comfortable with, and I'm thinking it's possible that some of the rubber is blocking his system just enough to reduce the size of his poop. His appetite is unchanged; he's still eating like a pig. He's still very active and doesn't appear to have any discomfort; I've been massaging his tummy in the hopes of helping whatever is in his system work its way out, and he just loves that. I haven't felt any hardness or any lumps in his tummy area when I give him a massage, either. His poop output is good, it's just much smaller than it should be and slightly misshapen at times. I'm hoping it's nothing serious, because I don't know if I could deal with him needing surgery or something after what I went through with Karnage.

On a more cheerful note, the increased roaming space has offered more opportunity to get some really cute pics, so I thought I'd share:




Finally, a good death-flop pic.


Oh, no--she's got the camera out again.


His latest habit; the occasional flop-and-paw-licking.


A closeup of same.


I haz a flavor.

I really need to get his outings on video--5 lbs. of furry projectile missile bombing around the room is a trip, plus he's the funniest bunnydancer I've ever had. I just have to figure out how to transfer my camcorder video to my computer so I can upload it.

@темы: bunny pictures, vets

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Естественный отбор.

У Момо ночью родились крольчата, три штуки. Один меньше всех, раза в два, сразу был откинуть. Растирали руки её каками и подклдывали малыша обратно, бесполезно =( Сейчас копошиться у меня в ладошке, грею. Что делать????

@темы: крольчата

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Jack Russells and Bunnies?

Hi guys,

I'm absolutely beside myself. I can't stop crying! My beloved bunny Peekaboo was originally one of three bunnies, but the other two rejected him when they grew older and attacked him. They would have killed him, so we gave them to a friend who REALLY wanted some bunnies. Finally he has a happy life (he is a garden bunny, please don't criticise).

I came back from London today and my mum has brought my brother a Jack Russell puppy. At the moment it is indoors, but will go outside tomorrow. I am reading everywhere they are hunting dogs and catch rabbits and squirrells, but have also read from an early age a dog can be taught to cohabit happily with a bunny.

My bunny is the only thing I have to live for at the moment (dramatic as it sounds). I am away from my boyfriend in a very lonely place and I am miserable all week. I really don't want to have to rehome my bunny, I will die.

Does anyone have experience with dog/bunny relations? I could do with advice.

Thanks so so much in advance.

Hannah

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Meet Jasper

Not sure if I've ever introduced myself (don't think I have) and rabbit but here goes. I got him back in June 2008 and he spent the first 7 weeks here with me thinking he was female and with the name Bella. He then spent 3 weeks after that nameless because I couldn't decide on another name. But Jasper suits him now He's half Flemish Giant, his mother being a Flemish Giant and his father a Black Satin.

He has his own 'room' now, it's a small room about the size of a closet, 5 feet by 6 feet or so, which opens up to a doorsized window through my bedroom, and a door beside it which opens up into my daughter's room. I've blocked off the bottom half of the doorway, and I use a babygate in the window to stop him from jumping out.

Wrote this in my own journal and thought I'd share the photo's here as well.

I had Jasper out tonight and decided he needed his nails trimmed. He hates having his feet touched and gets quite testy and opinionated whenever I do anything like that, so I tranced him and even got a few photos of giant bunny belly!




Those feet are dangerous weapons! I've got two thin scars on my upper arm from the summer to prove it. Ignore the uncensored *ahem* bunny bits.

The first time I ever tried this, he hopped off my lap, jumped back up onto it and gave my hand a nip as if he was telling me off. He wasnt mad at me this time though and has forgiven me I'm certain as I bribed him with a carrot as a treat afterwards.

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broad beans?

Hey all, Google has failed me and I come to the community to see if I can get an answer. I know that you shouldn't ever give your bunny RAW broad beans, but is safe or not to feed them the leaves and stems from t he actual plants? I have a fine crop ready for picking, which will leave me with quite a lot of pods, leaves and stems. I wouldn't mind giving some of them to Rosie as a treat but am not about to do that without knowing if that is safe or not. Can someone advise me, please?

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My NIC cage

I've been building, modifying and adding on to my NIC cage for the past 8 months, and I think it's finally done. Hurrah!!

Now, because there are always a lot of posts by the members here on NIC cage tips or wanting examples. I'm going to make a really long (cut) post showing the evolution of my NIC cage and finally outlining the key features in the (current) final version that I think will make this my winning cage.


First, the final list of supplies! I'm not going to include the interim supplies, just the final tally.
- 51 NIC panels (reduce by one for a cage that's not partitioned)
- A whole whack load of Zip ties (I'm thinking along the lines of 150, but I think total I've used close to 400-500 from re-models, broken ties, etc)
- Two corrugated plastic (Coroplast) pieces 18x24" (could have been a couple inches longer because it doesn't quite cover two NIC panels) for shelves
- One corrugated plastic piece 48x96cm (approx 48x96", this piece just barely fit inside my CR-V, so make sure you've got one hell of a vehicle if you need a piece this big)
- 6 medium-size binder clips
- 4 leash clips


So here is version one of the cage, this was just for Victor before I had gotten a second bun.

Quick overview, it has shelves at mid-level on the panel, blame the paranoid bunny mom, I didn't want him falling and hurting himself. One shelf at one panel high connecting the two corner shelves, support panel in the middle of the cage below the pen panel high shelf. The flooring is cardboard covered in stick-on linoleum tiles, it's a really cheap solution for a floor, but unless you're awesome at tiling you'll have to make sure to keep the cage clean or make sure your buns are completely litter trained because the small space between the tiles does allow for leakage after long amounts of standing time.

I got frustrated with this design because it was hard to clean, I had a lot of lift-up roof pieces, but overall just too many inaccessible corners.


Here is version two with plans for a second bun to share the space.

The entire front half lifted up to allow for VERY easy cleaning and access, all one level, pretty simple. Same flooring as above.


This is the co-habitation cage that my two boys are now in.

this cage, when all the roof panels are opened is actually large enough in each half that I can climb inside for intense cleaning (floor scrubbing mostly) and I'm 5'7" (5'8" on a good day) and around 130lb. I do have to sit on my knees, but I can still get right inside the cage!

This is Victor's half of the cage

He's not a tosser so he gets a HUGE water bowl, a shoe box for nibbling/pushing/playing in. The roof attachments are more relaxed because Victor isn't a very inventive escape artist the only thing he tries is pushing on the door.

This is Henry's half of the cage

He will toss, flip and push anything that's not secured, so he gets a huge water bottle, a cardboard ring for tossing, and his box. Oh my how he loves that box. Half the time I have to look twice to make sure he's actually in the cage because he's hiding in his box. The roof and door panels are secured a lot more than Victor's because Henry is like the Houdini of the rabbit world, I've personally witnessed him jump up and crawl out the very top of the cage (yeah, two feet up in the air, grab the NIC squares and crawl out the top). He gets leash clips and double the binder clips that Victor has.

The shelves

The shelves are two panels long so the zip ties hold them up securely for my 2.5lb bunnies (they may be tipping 3lbs, but I'd be surprised if they are). There is a full partition because the boys aren't bonded yet (waiting for neutering), but it would be easy enough to take out one of the panels to join the cage. The Coroplast just sits on top of the NIC panels so they can be lifted out to see what you're cleaning underneath.

Roof panel attachments

Leash clips at the corners where my buns typically nose and nudge to try and lift and a binder clip at the centre simply to keep the side panels from moving back and forth.

Front cage lip

Zip tied to the panel both to keep the lip up and avoid spills onto the carpet (it's long and doesn't stay completely upright) and to keep the panels from sliding back and forth.

Rear cage lip

A little more difficult to see, but the pure white is the coroplast and the cream colour is the wall. The lip extends almost completely to the top of the shelf. This will stop most lower level spraying from hitting the wall, and prevents a lot of spills.

Cage doors


The doors swing into the cage, this way the front lip can just extend all the way and prevent even door spills, and the small squares offer a bit more support and stability at the doors for escapist buns who push with all their might against the door.


And just for fun, a picture of Victor and one of Henry!


Henry says: "My box!!! ...I mean... Hi!"


Victor says: "Hello. And no. I won't share with you."

x-posted to bunnyowners

---

My NIC cage

I've been building, modifying and adding on to my NIC cage for the past 8 months, and I think it's finally done. Hurrah!!

Now, because there are always a lot of posts by the members here on NIC cage tips or wanting examples. I'm going to make a really long (cut) post showing the evolution of my NIC cage and finally outlining the key features in the (current) final version that I think will make this my winning cage.


First, the final list of supplies! I'm not going to include the interim supplies, just the final tally.
- 51 NIC panels (reduce by one for a cage that's not partitioned)
- A whole whack load of Zip ties (I'm thinking along the lines of 150, but I think total I've used close to 400-500 from re-models, broken ties, etc)
- Two corrugated plastic (Coroplast) pieces 18x24" (could have been a couple inches longer because it doesn't quite cover two NIC panels) for shelves
- One corrugated plastic piece 48x96cm (approx 48x96", this piece just barely fit inside my CR-V, so make sure you've got one hell of a vehicle if you need a piece this big)
- 6 medium-size binder clips
- 4 leash clips


So here is version one of the cage, this was just for Victor before I had gotten a second bun.

Quick overview, it has shelves at mid-level on the panel, blame the paranoid bunny mom, I didn't want him falling and hurting himself. One shelf at one panel high connecting the two corner shelves, support panel in the middle of the cage below the pen panel high shelf. The flooring is cardboard covered in stick-on linoleum tiles, it's a really cheap solution for a floor, but unless you're awesome at tiling you'll have to make sure to keep the cage clean or make sure your buns are completely litter trained because the small space between the tiles does allow for leakage after long amounts of standing time.

I got frustrated with this design because it was hard to clean, I had a lot of lift-up roof pieces, but overall just too many inaccessible corners.


Here is version two with plans for a second bun to share the space.

The entire front half lifted up to allow for VERY easy cleaning and access, all one level, pretty simple. Same flooring as above.


This is the co-habitation cage that my two boys are now in.

this cage, when all the roof panels are opened is actually large enough in each half that I can climb inside for intense cleaning (floor scrubbing mostly) and I'm 5'7" (5'8" on a good day) and around 130lb. I do have to sit on my knees, but I can still get right inside the cage!

This is Victor's half of the cage

He's not a tosser so he gets a HUGE water bowl, a shoe box for nibbling/pushing/playing in. The roof attachments are more relaxed because Victor isn't a very inventive escape artist the only thing he tries is pushing on the door.

This is Henry's half of the cage

He will toss, flip and push anything that's not secured, so he gets a huge water bottle, a cardboard ring for tossing, and his box. Oh my how he loves that box. Half the time I have to look twice to make sure he's actually in the cage because he's hiding in his box. The roof and door panels are secured a lot more than Victor's because Henry is like the Houdini of the rabbit world, I've personally witnessed him jump up and crawl out the very top of the cage (yeah, two feet up in the air, grab the NIC squares and crawl out the top). He gets leash clips and double the binder clips that Victor has.

The shelves

The shelves are two panels long so the zip ties hold them up securely for my 2.5lb bunnies (they may be tipping 3lbs, but I'd be surprised if they are). There is a full partition because the boys aren't bonded yet (waiting for neutering), but it would be easy enough to take out one of the panels to join the cage. The Coroplast just sits on top of the NIC panels so they can be lifted out to see what you're cleaning underneath.

Roof panel attachments

Leash clips at the corners where my buns typically nose and nudge to try and lift and a binder clip at the centre simply to keep the side panels from moving back and forth.

Front cage lip

Zip tied to the panel both to keep the lip up and avoid spills onto the carpet (it's long and doesn't stay completely upright) and to keep the panels from sliding back and forth.

Rear cage lip

A little more difficult to see, but the pure white is the coroplast and the cream colour is the wall. The lip extends almost completely to the top of the shelf. This will stop most lower level spraying from hitting the wall, and prevents a lot of spills.

Cage doors


The doors swing into the cage, this way the front lip can just extend all the way and prevent even door spills, and the small squares offer a bit more support and stability at the doors for escapist buns who push with all their might against the door.


And just for fun, a picture of Victor and one of Henry!


Henry says: "My box!!! ...I mean... Hi!"


Victor says: "Hello. And no. I won't share with you."

x-posted to rabbitowners

---

bad bunny

Grrrr.... I've been working on transitioning my Bella from a caged-by-day-free-range-by-night to a totally cage-free bun. She had been so good, I thought she was ready to try a day out of the cage while I went to class. So I let her stay out. I have grids up to block access to low bookshelves and all electronics and wires. This has always been fine, and Bell's not too much of a chewer, anyway, as bunnies go.

So I came home today and found the grids had been somehow maneuvered out of place. Bunny had somehow gotten behind. First, I found bits of a dustjacket. Bella had destroyed the dust jacket and taken a good chunk out of my absolute favorite, somewhat rare, $80 art book. Only that one, of course, she didn't touch anything less expensive. But it gets worse. I found Bella's behind sticking out from between the bookshelf and the tv stand. There wasn't enough room for her to actually get in there or behind the tv, thank goodness. But she did find a wire she could reach to chew on, and was about halfway through it. THANK GOD it was a cable that connects the DVD player to the tv screen, and the DVD player was UNPLUGGED. So bunny is fine. But it was so scary. I didn't know which wire it was at first, I only saw that she had gotten all the way through the plastic casing and bits of brass wire were sticking out. I screamed and ran and traumatized the poor bunny. Everybody's fine, and I really don't care about my DVD player, but I'm terrified now. I obviously have to figure out something better than grids for bunny-proofing, and I obviously underestimated my bunny's predilection for troublemaking. And now I feel awful for leaving her out unsupervised. I really thought the grids would be enough. Maybe I need iron bars?

But I don't feel much better about watching her chew at the bars of her cage, wanting to come out and play. Sigh. Time to rethink this whole arrangement.

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My bunnies are artistic!

It all started with two square cardboards and today I found this.



*click for bigger.

It's a sign! o_O

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My bun playing the piano

Pyon jumped up on the piano stool again the other day...

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<lj-cut="playing>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

Pyon jumped up on the piano stool again the other day...

<lj-cut="playing the piano"><img alt="" src="i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk129/secret_alice/...; /></lj-cut>

<lj-cut="and a sleeping pic"><img alt="" src="i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk129/secret_alice/...; /></lj-cut>

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Sick bunny?

Can rabbits get diabetes?

The reason I ask is because Sadie has suddenly started going through water like a fiend, and consequently peeing all over the place. I filled her water bottle around twelve hours ago, and when I checked on her about half an hour ago it was dry as a bone. It's a 32-ounce bottle! It usually takes her at least two full days to drink that much. She's also been filling her litter box much, much faster than usual, and has been having accidents. She hasn't peed outside her cage yet, but she's been peeing on the floor of her cage quite a lot, which she hasn't done in ages.

Any ideas? I plan on calling my wonderful vet on Monday, but I thought I'd gather opinions here as well.

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Зайчики кролики

У моего малыша зайчика http://community.livejournal.com/ru_rabbit/312991.html
Появилась подружка кролик
Соседка мне отдала, у нее дети наигрались с ним а теперь он не нужен.....
Так вот малышка теперь живет у меня.
Только что их пыталась познакомить и чуть не случилось изнасилование(
Так вот как им теперь жить вдвоем
Ну разумеется отдельно а что еще
Она еще совсем малышка помещается в ладошках.

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про клетки...

вопрос дорогому сообществу.

порыскал эту тему, но не нашел ответа: а как вообще кролик должен вести себя в клетке?
дело в том, что наш, как только мы его запираем, сразу начинает грызть прутья, трясти стенки, переворачивает еду и раскидывает вокруг солому... буйный короче. поэтому сразу возник вопрос, что с ним делать на ночь. ночью, когда он на свободе, приходит к нам на кровать и на нас срёт. целенаправленно. вчера жену обоссал. :: (( а когда сажаем к клетку - начинается... "пусть всегда будет небо, пусть всегда будет солнце...!"
собственно.

нормально ли это, или наш особенно буйный?
может ли он привыкнуть к ночной клетке или это уже навсегда?
держите ли вы кролика ночью в клетке, или если кто без, спите ли вы по ночам? :: )

заранее благодарю.

М.

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truffle's on the hunt

New journal - formally matika88

Well Truffle and I went to meet the potential new bunny mentioned a few posts back. Turns out the "really small mini lop" was actually a HUGE lop. The picture I had been sent was actually of him as a baby. Unfortunately, Truffle and I don't really have the room for the massive beast, so I had to tell my friend she would have to find another home for him . I really hope he ends up in a good place, I'm going to keep checking back with her on that.

So Truffle's quest for a husbun continues..
Since then, I have contacted the local rabbit rescue. Truffle is being set up on multiple speed dates (with smaller bunnies) throughout the upcoming week. I'll keep you posted on who she deems worhty as a mate.

<lj-cut text="I can lick my nose! Maybe that will attract my new dates">
<img src="http://photos-095.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v364/191/74/1106730095/n1106730095_30054222_8927.jpg">

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люди добрые, выручайте.

недавно взяли кролика. всё в нём прекрасно, только одна беда: срёт, извиняюсь за выражение, исключительно к нам в кровать. причём до смешного - после того, как поет, идёт гадить только в кровать, и никуда больше. в солому не хочет, на пол не кидает, целенаправленно залезает на диван, роняет подарки и бежит дальше.
собственно, мож кто знает, можно ли его как-то переучить делать это же самое в солому или хотя бы принципиально не залезать на кровать?
заранее благодарствую.

М.

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sigh.

tonight, ned got his first litter box. it's a combination of hilarious and frustrating.

ned has never used this type of litter. in fact, he has never even really taken a second thought to litter. it's just there and he puts his poops in it. now, the litter box? it just begs for attention.

first, he examined the litter to see if it was food. nope, it was not to his liking. now, he's amazed at the litter box and keeps jumping in and out of it, and most of the litter is outside his cage and all over his towels. he's actually binkying inside his cage!

he now has been sitting in it for about 10 minutes and he's digging (and flinging the litter out) and marveling at this thing he can SIT IN! and JUMP OUT OF! AND DRINK FROM HIS WATER BOTTLE FROM! i'm glad he likes it, but i'm hoping he realizes it's in the same corner he usually does his bidness in and uses it... :/






sorry for the crap quality. baxter's face is hard to capture on this camera so i had to lighten a bit.

</lj>

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So I dont exactly own a bunny just yet but i am trying to adopt one [bunny under cut]
and i wanted to know if i could use hay that you feed horses as bunny bedding. There is a tack shop near my house and they sell bails of it cheap. I did however get hay-cob bedding for now though its kind of expensive because the cage it goes in is huge so i have to buy a lot of it.

Second question is if i am able to adopt this bunny does anyone have any suggestions for a name? Shes a mini-lop.

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Heee!

I just saw Night of the Lepus (cheesy horror movie from the 70s, about giant killer rabbits) last night and found it EXTREMELY entertaining. I'd been assuming it would be bad rabbit suits or dogs in lame costumes (like the killer weasels or whatever they were in another bad horror flick from the 50s), but it's all real bunnies running through miniature landscapes and forced-perspective and licking their lips and stuff. DeForest Kelley vs. Bunnies! Yay!



Best quote: "Attention, attention, ladies and gentlemen attention, there's a herd of killer rabbits headed this way!"

I just wonder what they used to make the buns show their teeth like that...

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Breathing?

Fraggle is breathing really loudly. She is otherwise fine and eating well. Any ideas what it might be?

Lou x

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Who on earth said dogs and rabbits couldn't live together?

Dog? What dog? This? Oh, this is my bed! No dog here officer! I hope you find him...


Bunny Flop + Dog Flop = Much floppy cuteness!


Ooh, she moved!



     
Smirnoff asks Sparky for head rubs and gets sniffed instead!

And just so we don't forget the incredible cuteness that is Bruiser...


In other news, Smirnoff has turned out to be all I wanted and more for Bruiser! After 2 years of hutch living (apart from when he escaped) and hardly any human contact (other than being chased and caught after escaping) Bruiser has become a very timidlittle boy. Which is a shame, as when he was a baby he was amazingly friendly and would fall out of his hutch in his hurry to get to you when you opened the door.

When I bought him to uni with me he would hardly leave his cage, even though the door was almost always open and would definately not come up and say hi to you.

Then I got Smirnoff, who is the bossiest, nosiest, most demanding bunny I have ever met! And Bruiser adores her.

Yesterday morning, as I was lying in my bed I felt a bunny jump onto my feet. I looke up, expecting Smirnoff and saw Bruiser instead! He has never been up on my bed unless I've put him there! As soon as he felt me move he jumped and ran back to his cage again, but it's a start...

Then this morning I woke up, fed the bunnies and went back to bed for a little while as I always do. When I got up again Bruiser started folowing me around my room. Everywhere I went he was hopping along behind me. So I amused myself for 5 minutes walking backwards and forwards across my room with my little bunny shadow.

Then he started binkying around my room. Whilst him binkying isn't unusual he normally does it early in the morning when my light is out and he thinks I'm not watching. He normally stays either in or near his cage as well. And this morning he was all over my room whilst he knew I was there!

Of course, as soon as I got the camera out to film him he stopped...

But I'm so, so ,so happy! My little boy is finding his confidence again.

x-posted